Trees

A tree is a plant that is characterised by its elongated stem, or trunk, supporting branches, and (in most species) leaves. Trees can vary greatly depending on geographic region and climate. Trees can live for a long time, some for thousands of years.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide during their growth and store it until they decay or are burned. This makes timber a sustainable material, as its net environmental impact is zero (excluding processing, transport etc impacts).

In case law a tree has been defined for planning purposes as anything that would ‘ordinarily be regarded as a tree. Thus, it would not include a shrub, a bush or scrub.’

Trees can be protected in law by tree preservation orders, or by being in a conservation area. In this case, a tree is considered to be a stem with a diameter of more than 75mm when measured at 1.5 metres up the stem. For more information see: Definition of tree for planning purposes.

The glossary to the National Planning Policy Framework defines an ancient tree or veteran tree as: 'A tree which, because of its age, size and condition, is of exceptional biodiversity, cultural or heritage value. All ancient trees are veteran trees. Not all veteran trees are old enough to be ancient, but are old relative to other trees of the same species. Very few trees of any species reach the ancient life-stage.'

Articles about trees on Designing Buildings include:

• 11 things you didn't know about wood.
• A guide to the use of urban timber FB 50.
• Ancient tree.
• Ancient woodland.
• Bamboo.
• Birch wood.
• Buttress root.
• Carpentry.
• Cedar.
• Chain of custody.
• Cherry.
• Chip carving.
• CIBSE Case Study Trees of Knowledge
• Confederation of Timber Industries.
• Cross-laminated timber.
• Definition of tree for planning purposes.
• Dendrochronology.
• Engineered bamboo.
• European Union Timber Regulation.
• Forest ownership.
• Forest Stewardship Council.
• Forests.
• Glulam.
• Green timber.
• Hardwood.
• Laminated veneer lumber LVL.
• Lime wood.
• Mahogany.
• Oak.
• Oriented strand board.
• Padauk wood.
• Permission for felling or lopping a tree.
• Physical Properties of Wood.
• Plywood.
• Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
• Properties of mahogany.
• Protected species.
• Rain garden.
• Recognising wood rot and insect damage in buildings.
• Root ball.
• Root deflector.
• Root protection area.
• Sapele wood.
• Softwood.
• Sustainable timber.
• Sycamore.
• Testing timber.
• The benefits of urban trees
• The differences between hardwood and softwood.
• The effect of trees on rights of light.
• The use of timber in construction.
• Timber construction for London.
• Timber frame.
• Timber framed buildings and fire.
• Timber preservation.
• Timber vs wood.
• Timber.
• Tree dripline.
• Tree hazard survey.
• Tree planters and tree pits.
• Tree preservation order.
• Tree rights.
• Tree root subsidence.
• Trees in conservation areas.
• Trunk flare.
• Tulipwood.
• Types of timber.
• Urban trees.
• Urban treescape.